The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-13
THE SAMOAN ISLANDS.
Some PecuIiarities of the Country and
the Natives.
From the Ne'o York Times.

From The Neio York Times
The news of trouble in the Samoan
Islands and the removal of the King has
brought most vividly to the mind of the
writer some pleasant days passed in that
most picturesque of mid-ocean island groups.
Right in the middle of the grand old ocean,
with its beautiful blue waters almost UNI
fathomable, until some bright mind thought
of using piano wire to ascertain its depth,
jump up here and there peaks of what were
once volcanoes in active operation. A
nearer approach discloSes dense woods,
with green fertile patches dotted
here and there with the buildings
of the natives, and as one passes
inside the coral reefs, behind whose shelter
the safest of anchorages can be found, he is
surprised to see some good sized villages
well filled with people in European cos
TUNES, whereas being clothed in ones right
mind, with the addition of breech clout
for adults, was at one time the only cover
ing required. The simplicity of manner
which has been mentioned by numerous
early explorers who visited the island still
exists, more especially among those who
live away from the villages, and whose
ideas show an almost utter want of what to
us are the conventionalities. Numerous
were the hearty laughs we had over their
lUlSlIipbo db COp1lllS JuclI IIuIODcdl NlolOOlS3
and the utter failures which attended their
efforts.
The color of the natives is, as rule, dark
olive. The better class, however, are much
lighter. The men are tall and well-formed,
giving one rather a false idea of being quite
athletic. We saw nothing during our visit
to indicate their eXcelling in sport of any
kind. The women are generally slight, but
quite symmetrical, easy and graceful, and
tbaa, of11tsa
imaginable. Some of the chiefs have two
or more wives, but polygamy is rather the
exception than the rule, and even when
their is more than one wife separate estab
lishments are provided for each.
The great evenness of climate makes two
crops per year a possibility, and should some
enterprising parties undertake practical
farming in Samoa there are immense re-
turns to be had. But in a climate where
the temperature is always between TO- and
90 energy seems to be the lacking element
toward the carrying out of extensive agri-
cultural schemes, aud now the principal eX-
ports are "coppra," or the dried meat of the
cocOanut, from which oil is made, and
small quantity of cotton. Nearly all the
| trade is controlled by some Hamburg houses,
and the Germans are by far the most numer-
GUS of the foreigners. 1t seems strange to
hear that they are the ones making the
present trouble. Possibly all the privileges
| they have been heretofore enjoying We're
somewhat abrogated by the eXiled King {;
hence his removal and the establishing of
one more favorably disposed in his place
One of the never-failing sources of delight
during the stay Of our ship at the islands
was to watch the wonderful display of dex-
tarity on the part of the islanders in hand
| ling their canoes, scores of which were
daily plying about the ship lodging in and
out, rushing at each other under full head
| way, as though one would go right through
| the other, when by dexterous movement
of the paddle the speed of the boat would be
almost instantly arrested or forced sufficient
| ly out of her course to avoid accident.
! From this great skill the Samoan Islands
were named drchipet DIES GGUigdteurS, and
| they to-day are called, in addition to their
more common name, the Navigator Islands
| Commander Meade visited the islands when
| in command of the steamer Narrangansett,
| in 1872, and through his exertions succeeded
in getting the chiefs to place the harbor
| of Pango Pango under the protec-
ton of the United States government with
view toward establishing coaling station
there, it being on the direct route between
| America and Australia In the future il
will probably play an important part, as
the harbor is completely landlocEed and has
an entrance clear of rocks and water for
| the largest vessels A special agent was
sent out after the return of the Narragan-
sett to negotiate the extension of the pro
tectOrate over all the islands, as their value
to us is beyond any question greater than it
| can possibly be to any other nation, but in
1875 a native chief was elected King, and
our special mission ended by the agent be-
coming Prime Minister to the King. The
latter has shown numerous instances of
friendly feeling to the United States, and
has granted permission to establish a naval
and coaling station there, of which we have
mover fully taken advantage.